Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Macleod Gazette, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Macleod Gazette
Contact:  http://www.fortmacleodgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3375
Author: Frank McTighe, Macleod Gazette Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

CRYSTAL METH COALITION SETS KEY OBJECTIVES

Community Presentations On Crystal Meth Is One Of The Key Objectives 
For The New Fort Macleod Crystal Meth Coalition.

The volunteer group has also decided its role is to support the 
proposed youth centre project and to network with other community groups.

"It's very much in the beginning as to where we're going to focus our 
attention as a coalition," co-chair Angela Bourassa said. Eighteen 
people turned out Wednesday at the Foothills Centre for the third 
meeting of the coalition.

At the meeting coalition members confirmed the mandate should include 
community awareness, promotion, prevention and education about 
crystal meth and other substance abuse.

The coalition's work will include public presentations about crystal 
meth, advocacy for the proposed new youth centre, networking with 
community groups, and linking with Fort Macleod schools.

The mandate and key objectives are listed in an application being 
prepared by the coalition for a $3,000 grant from the AADAC Community 
Drug Coalition Grant Program.

Bourassa, co-chair Val Campbell and Murray Kowalzik prepared the 
grant application for consideration by other coalition members. "This 
was a brain-storming effort by the three of us," Kowalzik said. "This 
isn't written in stone."

The coalition has discussed organizing a community meeting on crystal 
meth, with presentations by a scientist on the effects of the drug on 
the brain, as well as by a recovering addict.

"We thought we should set up a sub-committee and look at that as one 
of our first goals," Kowalzik said.

The coalition has also determined that a youth centre would provide a 
healthy atmosphere for young people and an alternative to drugs and alcohol.

"We could advocate for that on a lot of different levels," Kowalzik 
said of the youth centre.

The coalition will also have representation at meetings of other 
local groups, such as the RCMP Community Advisory Committee and the 
Fort Macleod Interagency Committee.

"We want to make sure all the groups in the community know what the 
coalition is doing," Kowalzik said.

Another idea discussed by the coalition is lobbying to the solicitor 
general to establish a drug-free zone of several blocks around Fort 
Macleod schools.

"If you were arrested trying to sell drugs within so many blocks of a 
school, the penalty would be higher than normal," Kowalzik said. This 
approach was tried without success by another Alberta community, he added.

The coalition's next meeting is 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 1 at the 
Foothills Centre.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom